Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/324

306 made from different points of view against this profound and comprehensive drama.

In the field of elegant literature the following authors and authoresses are yet to be mentioned: Jacobine Camilla Collet, Henrik Wergeland's sister (born 1813), is a writer whose stories and sketches, especially her interesting novel from real life, "Amtmandens Döttre," abound in original spirited thoughts, and are characterized by an elegant style, though a conspicuous tendency to criticise would seem to mar the poetic beauty of her works. In her book, "I de lange Nætter" (During the long nights), she describes in a frank and pleasing manner her childhood in the house of her parents, and then she gives various episodes from her later life, which explain how her intellectual development came to assume a direction which made her the most zealous and energetic champion of woman's emancipation in the whole North. In all her works, but particularly in "Erindringer og Bekjendelser" (Recollections and Confessions), and in "Fra de Stummes Leir" (From the camp of the mute), are found grand arguments in favor of woman's social rights, though they at times indicate a total ignorance of the actually existing state of things.

Jonas Lie (born 1833) has produced in the form of novels several sketches of nature and popular life from the north of Norway, among which are "Den Fremsynte," "Tremasteren Fremtiden," and "Lodsen og hans Hustru." His style is somewhat heavy, but the sketches taken separately are so fresh and vivid, and filled with so much poetical fragrance, and contain, moreover, so many fine psychological observations, that